Page 200 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303 (1)

Pharmacognosy-2 (PG303) Level 2 Clinical Pharmacy-Pharm D

Constituents
Rauwolfia contains resinous matter and about 1.2-1.4 % of alkaloids; also
small amounts of phytosterol, fatty acids, unsaturated alcohols, dextrose, sucrose,
fumaric acid and fluorescent substances. The sedative and hypnotic actions are
due chiefly to the resinous substance from which the alkaloid reserpine has been
isolated. The alkaloids first isolated were classed in two groups, ajmaline
(ajmaline, ajmalinine, ajmalicine and two others) and serpentine (serpentine and
serpentinine, which are yellow substances), the most important alkaloids are
reserpine and rescinnamine.

Powdered Rauwolfia. l, vessel; 2, cork; 3, starch; 4, pericyclic
fibre; 5, periderm; 6, m.r. cells of xylem; 7, wood fibres; 8, m.r &
w,p.; 9, phloem tissue ; 10, t racheids and tracteidal v.; ll, calcium oxalate
crystals .

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